Have you ever looked at your phone and decided not to answer the call? When I was a child, if the phone rang, I answered. Then, there was no caller ID, and the only way to know who was calling was to answer it. It was also before the time when every company you dealt with did not sell your number for profit. You also could not Google and retrieve a number at will. Those opportunities were not available as they are today. Now, when my phone rings, the first thing I do is check the number. If I know them, I answer; if I am not familiar with the number, I usually do not. We can pick and choose who and when we will answer our calls. I wonder if we treat Jesus’ call to us in the same way.
In the Bible, there are many instances where Jesus calls. In answering His call, it can be costly, and many are not willing to pay the price. In Matthew 4:18-19, Jesus began to call those whom He would train to carry out the gospel message after He was gone. His first call was to Peter and Andrew. He also asks James and John that day to leave their occupations and follow Him. Peter is a great example of us today. He followed and He loved Jesus. He makes great claims of how he would never deny Him, how he would die for Him. However, we know that on the night Jesus was arrested, Peter did just as Jesus had told him. He denied him three times. Peter failed, but he wept bitterly, repented, and became one of Jesus’ greatest followers. In John 1:42, Jesus told Peter his name meant a stone. “And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.” Jesus gave him a name that is a symbol of firmness and steadiness of character. He knew that Peter’s failure would push him to greater heights for the gospel. Before the crucifixion, Peter was headstrong, impetuous, and proud. He thought he was capable of far more than he was. After the death, we see Peter truly following Christ at all costs. He preached, and thousands were saved in one day. He answered the call by denying himself. He finally understood the love that Christ had for Him and that his life was not about him, but about Jesus.
Matthew 4:18-19 “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, “Follow me,” and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
In Matthew chapter 19, a rich young man comes to Jesus and asks Jesus in verse 16 what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus tells him in Matthew 19:21, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” This was not what the young man expected. He had made a case for being a good person and assumed that was enough, or maybe there was one more good deed he could do that would qualify him for eternal life. He never expected Jesus to ask him to give up his possessions. In verse 22, we see his response. “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” Jesus knew his heart and the value he placed on his riches. He did not answer the call because he loved his things more than Jesus.
In Matthew 8:21, we see Jesus giving the call to another man who valued formalities and family more than he did obedience to Him. This man made the excuse that he needed to go bury his father. This sounds reasonable to us. He was showing respect for his family. Jesus knew more about this man’s heart than the man knew about himself. Jesus knew his circumstances, that if he went back, he would want to stay. He wanted him to see the more important issue of winning souls. Our first priority in life is not our families, it is to follow Christ and be about His business of warning people of the imminent danger of hell if they do not give their lives to Christ. In verse 22, Jesus said, “Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.”
In Matthew 9:9, we see Jesus calling Matthew to come follow Him. Matthew was a tax collector. A man who was known to collect more than the people owed and keep the extra. He had a job that was set. Taxes were not going away; there would always be a need for tax collectors. He was not like the first disciples, fishing every day for their daily sustenance. When he walked away from his position, he knew his life was about to be the opposite of all he had known. He would no longer be able to depend on a secure income. Now, he would be depending on the Savior to supply his needs. He would obey because of his faith in Jesus.
Matthew 9:9 “And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, follow me. And he arose, and followed him.”
What keeps you from following with all your heart? Jesus still asks us to be willing to follow and deny ourselves. He wants us to depend on Him completely. He wants us to understand that He will supply our needs if we will obey. He wants us to deny ourselves, to serve with the attitude that it is all about Him, not ourselves. We reflect Him best when we keep serving when it is tough, when others do not respond in a positive way, when we are tired and feel worn out. He wants us to especially keep on when our strength is gone. It is then He will take over, and we will glorify Him because we can see His power in our lives. Are you willing to answer the call no matter what the cost?
God showed me a long time ago that all I do should be for His glory, and it should be done with my whole heart. It does not matter how others respond it matters that I obey. If they respond positively or negatively my service is not affected. It is all for Him.
I Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”
